Receptacle for toothpicks.



-.Np. 863,896. A PATBNTED AUG. 2o, 1907. i Ri. BEGKMA'NN. i -REGBIPTAGLBPOR -Too-HPIGKS.

APPLioA'HoN umn JULY s, 160e.`

fm: Nonni: PETERS co., rnmcmu, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ernten.

RECEPTACLE FOR TOOTHPICKS.

Speceation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed July 3,1906. Serial No. 824,573.

To all 'whom it vmay concern:

lie it known that I, RICHARD BECKMANN, residing at.

Charlottenburg, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Receptacles for Toothpicks; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to a preferably dust-tight receptacle fortoothpicks, having a device for delivering the contents singly. vIn thisapparatus the front toothpick of an assemblage, acted upon by spring orother pressure, is delivered from the receptacle by a sliding or rotarymember, which bears against the face of the tooth-pick and feeds itforward by friction.

The advantage of the new receptacle over prior like apparatus is thatthe tooth-picks are infallibly engaged and delivered by the feed-member,no mattei' what their shape and thickness. It is thus impossible for thedelivery-mechanism to get out oi order through jamming of thetooth-picks or through two picks being fed forward simultaneously.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figurel is a front elevation and part section of a form ofthe new apparatus inwhich a sliding feed is employed. Fig. 2 is a cross section through Fig.l. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line A-B of Fig. l.Fig. 4 is a front elevation and part section of a modified constructionof the apparatus, in which a rotary feed is used. Fig. 5 is a crosssection through Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 3, the holder consists of abox-shaped receptacle a, surrounded by a casing al (indicated in theiigures by dotted lines), and of suitable dimensions to receive thetoothpicks b, preferably loosely assembled together one behind theother.' To enable the receptacle e to be filled, one of its walls isarranged to flap back or slide. Aga-inst the backmost of the assembledtoothpicks, which are arranged to slide in the receptacle a, therepresses a plate c, loosely guided in the receptacle. This plate c has alateral stud d, which engages in a guide-slot e in the one side of thereceptacle. The pin receives the lower end of a guide-arm f, the upperend of which is bifurcated at g and embraces a pin h projecting from thewal] of the receptacle a, the head t' of the pin retaining the arm f inplace. Against the stud d there presses the free end of a spiral springk, secured at the bottom of the receptacle a, which spring tends toadvance the plate c and the assemblage of toothpicks b in direction ofthe arrow (Fig. l).

The guide arm g prevents the plate c from tilting axially upon the pinri' which is arranged at its middle part, when the plate is being pushedbackward in the empty receptacle.

At the front end of the case cL isa slide m, which is provided with aroughened or toothed part n, against which the front toothpick of theassemblage is pressed owing to the action of the spring la. The slide inis provided at the bottom with a stud o, which is embraced by theslotted end p of a double-aimed lever r, which is fulcrumed so as toturn on the axis s, mounted in the receptacle walls and is acted upon bya spring t. The rear end of the lever 1 is furnished with a knob a.

When the knob a is depressed, the slide m is lifted by the lower end ofthe lever r and the front tooth-pick b is fed through the slot o in thetop of the receptacle a to such an extent that it can be convenientlygrasped and withdrawn from the apparatus, as indicated by the dottedlines in Fig. l. On release of the knob u the lever r is returned to itsinitial position by the action of the spring t, the slide m beingretracted simultane ously. The teeth of the part n of the slide m may beof any suitable description, but are preferably upwardly directed, asshown in Fig. l, so as to admit of the readiest possible return of theslide to its lowermost position.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 4 and 5 differs from that justdescribed inasmuch as the reciprocating slide m is replaced by toothedwheel w mounted on an axis z in the upper part of the receptacle a,against which wheel the here horizontally disposed tooth-picks b arepressed by spiral springs .t arranged at each side of the receptacle.The exit y for the toothpicks is located in the end wall oi' thereceptacle a, as Fig. 4 shows. The end of the axis 2 is provided with aknob j to enable the wheel w to be readily rotated for the purpose offeeding f forward the tootlipicks b in succession.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination, with :i receptacle for the articles having a guideslot and an outlet opening, of a toothed feeding device provided with anoperating handle for mov ing it to protrude the articles through thesaid opening. a feed-plate slidable in the said receptacle and operatingto press the articles into contact with the teeth of the said feedingdevice, a pin secured to the said feed-plate and projecting through thesaid slot, and a feed spring arranged outside the said receptacle andconnected to the projectingl end portion of the said pin.

2. The combination, with a receptacle for the articles provided with asingle guide slot at its middle part and having also an outletopeningfor the articles, of a feeding device for protrudingl thearticles through the said open` ing. a feed-plate slidable in the saidreceptacle and provided wi'th a pin which projects through the saidguide slot. a `guide connected to the said pin andv preventing the saidfeed-plate from tilting, and a feed spring for the said feed-plate- E).A toothpick receptacle, comprising, in combination, a box, having anexit, to receive the picks; a spring-actuated plate behind the picks andforcing them toward the exit; means for guiding the plate; a roughenedfeed-plate located in front of the picks, at the exit; andaspring-actuated double armed lever fulcrumed on the box and having itslower end jointed to the feed-plate, whereby on depression of the otherlever-arm the feed-plate rises and advances the foremostpick by frictionthrough the exit; substantially as described7 4. A toothpick receptacle;comprising, in combination, a box, having an exit and a slotted wall, toreceive the picks a spring-actuated plate located behind the picks andhaving a lateral stud projecting through the box-slot; a pin on thebox-wall; a lever having a forked upper end embracing the pin and alower end receiving, the stud; a roughened feed-plate located in frontof the picks, at the exit, and having stud at its lower end; and aspringcontrolled double-armed lever fulcrumed on the box and having aslotted lower end which embraces the feed-plate stud; all operatingsubstantially as described.

ln testimony whereof I a'x my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD BECKMANN.

Witnesses z A. ANDERS, A. P. HANsoN.

